Simplifying supplements - diet experts weigh in!

[EventingMaff]

Weight-wise horse is an easy keeper and does well on orchard hay and ~2 lb daily of ration balancer.

Supplements currently:

• Horseshoer’s secret - currently barefoot and has good feet though slightly thin soles…I think this one is more for my peace of mind then demonstrated need for it
• Assureguard – Vet recommendation due to Ulcers this past winter
• Elevate (SE + Vit E) – due to blood test results showing slightly low SE and very low Vit E
• Natural Vit E gel capsules - additional Vit E on top of the Elevate to get to total 8,000 IU per day

Horse has seemed a bit tight and more reactive this winter so I’d like to try a magnesium supplement as our area is known for deficiency.

Here’s my question: Is there a way to simplify how many supplements she’s getting? E.g. something that is Mag + Se + Vit E and then I can top up the Vit E with gel capsules as necessary.
Or something more comprehensive vs the Horseshoer’s Secret that I can feel good about because it also provides some hoof support?

Open to ideas…just looking to make life easier for my BM as we don’t use Smartpaks so having a million buckets around of various supplements gets tedious…

[Scribbler]

What is the nutrition profile of your ration balancer? Can you get a more comprehensive one or can you switch to a VMS plus hay cube mash?

IME a good VMS has all the selenium you need, more of biotin copper zinc than any of the “hoof formulas” and some E. To that you can add extra E as needed.

[EventingMaff]

SHe’s on Nutrena Empower for her RB

Any recommendations for a ‘good’ VMS?

[RedHorses]

I went to the dollar store and bought some little containers that are about a cup in volume. I put one week’s worth of supplements in tubs and leave them for my BO to put in my horse’s feed.

I can increase/decrease or add/remove whatever I want and not have to worry about the person feeding. remembering. My tubs currently have salt, MSM, vit E, magnesium and Biotic 8. I also know when I’m getting low because I’m the one scooping supplements!

[RedHorses]

@Scribbler

IME a good VMS has all the selenium you need

This is very much regional specific. In some low selenium areas everything has not quite enough selenium to avoid toxicity when combined with other feeds/supplements. The thing to do is sit down with the weights fed and analysis of feed and supplements and figure out how much selenium the horse is getting.

Sometimes selenium is low because there’s not enough vit E. Increasing vit E can increase the horse’s uptake of selenium if that’s the problem.

[Amy3996]

MVP’s E-Se-Mag is good! I used it for years. I agree that if your horse has decent feet that just need a little extra help, a ration balancer is likely going to get you better results than any regular hoof supplement.